Starr

We are living in Taiwan (originally from South Africa), and there are
limits to our resources, mainly because most of the games, books, tv
etc is in Chinese. (This doesn't really bother the kids as they
enjoy the shows anyway), however, my question is this, can I still
provide an enriching environment for them?

We live on the east coast where we are moving into the rainy season,
so we can pretty much expect rain for the next couple of months, so
going outdoors is not really an option either. (We live in an
apartment, so comming from sunny SA where we had a big house and a
garden with a pool, this has been a BIG adjustment for us all!)LOL

I am new to unschooling, although not to homeschooling, and really see
the value in unschooling, but just question whether I can provide them
with enough of an enriching environment.

I guess what I am wanting to know is unschooling possible if you are
limited with resources and don't have loads of field trips and such,
and if you spend most of the time indoors????

(That question sounds strange to me when I re-read it, because I am
sure the answer is yes, LOL, but I suppose I am looking for
suggestions or advice on *things* to do)...

Like I said earlier, I am new to the unschooling path, so I am just
trying to figure this all out, and trying to *deschool* myself (and my
husband, who is a teacher.....), because I really feel this is the
path for our family.

Thanks for *listening* and I look forward to your replies.

~* Starr *~

Vicki

>
> We are living in Taiwan (originally from South Africa)

The only help I can offer is a friend's blog who currently is living in
China. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jimmie/ She always seems to be
doing some interesting things with her daughter and may have better
insight in what might be offered in Taiwan.

Hope that's of some help.
Vicki

Debra Rossing

One thing, maybe, is to see what the local folks do during the rainy
season - my guess is that they don't just 'stop' doing things. Get some
good galoshes and raincoats and when it's less torrential, head out for
puddle stomping, mud playing, critter watching (are there different
animals/bugs out and about during this season?) Even something as simple
as heading to a local tea shop for a snack in the middle of the day can
be an adventure KWIM? The idea of "field trips" is kind of a mis-nomer
because it presumes that there's a divide between life and school (you
spend your days in school and once in a while go out to actually do
something real). Your whole life is a field trip - the grocery store,
the bank, the post office, all those myriad things you do on a regular
basis. Particularly since you're living in a new area, treat the whole
thing as one Giant "field trip" - contact the local equivalent of the
"Chamber of Commerce" and see what they tell folks who want to visit the
area - what are the local industries? historic or otherwise significant
places? and so on.

Oh, and the kids are likely to be picking up Chinese pretty quickly
along the way too.

Deb

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Starr

--- In [email protected], "Vicki" <vickisue_gray@...>
wrote:
>
> >
> > We are living in Taiwan (originally from South Africa)
>
> The only help I can offer is a friend's blog who currently is living in
> China. http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jimmie/ She always seems to be
> doing some interesting things with her daughter and may have better
> insight in what might be offered in Taiwan.
>
> Hope that's of some help.
> Vicki
>


Thanks Vicki, I appreciate the link to your friends blog. It is
always great to hear about others who are in a similar situation (such
as being in a foreign country where EVERYTHING is so different to what
we are used to!).

Thanks again

~* Starr *~

Starr

--- In [email protected], "Debra Rossing"
<debra.rossing@...> wrote:
>
> One thing, maybe, is to see what the local folks do during the rainy
> season - my guess is that they don't just 'stop' doing things. Get some
> good galoshes and raincoats and when it's less torrential, head out for
> puddle stomping, mud playing, critter watching (are there different
> animals/bugs out and about during this season?) Even something as simple
> as heading to a local tea shop for a snack in the middle of the day can
> be an adventure KWIM? The idea of "field trips" is kind of a mis-nomer
> because it presumes that there's a divide between life and school (you
> spend your days in school and once in a while go out to actually do
> something real). Your whole life is a field trip - the grocery store,
> the bank, the post office, all those myriad things you do on a regular
> basis. Particularly since you're living in a new area, treat the whole
> thing as one Giant "field trip" - contact the local equivalent of the
> "Chamber of Commerce" and see what they tell folks who want to visit the
> area - what are the local industries? historic or otherwise significant
> places? and so on.
>
> Oh, and the kids are likely to be picking up Chinese pretty quickly
> along the way too.
>
> Deb


This is actually one of the things we had planned on doing (the
golloshes and stuff), as my boys LOVE to run in the rain (will take
their time about having a bath, but as soon as the rain comes they can
't wait to get out in it, and I figure with the next few months being
rain season, we may as well be properly equipped!) LOL

With regards to the "field trips", I suppose what I was thinking is
that we need to go to more *educational* places to stimulate their
learning or something..... I suppose that it is just my *schoolish*
thinking creeping in...

Also because I feel I am really lacking in "resources" due to the fact
that when we arrived here in Taiwan, it was only with a suitcase of
clothes each and a few english reading books and workbooks, so we do
not have a big home library of books and games....so I sometimes get
panicky that I won't be able to unschool effectively - does that make
sense?

I realise I need to take off my *school glasses* and see that learning
happens in different ways, that a simple trip to the store, or them
comming along with me to dance class, is an adventure, an opportunity
for learning something new.

And yes, they are picking up Chinese pretty quick!:o)

Thanks for taking the time to respond, and I am sure I will have a few
more questions along the way:o)

~* Starr *~

Debra Rossing

OOoh you've got a great opportunity to go out to whatever the equivalent
of a 5 and 10 is over there and pick up and learn some traditional games
- "Go" for instance, maybe mah jong?, who knows what other games the
kids (and adults) there play. Chess is pretty universal. Also, look into
maybe some traditional 'craft' ideas. And music - goodness, Asian style
music is so different than Western music. All of that is *learning*
whether or not it looks "educational". Oh, and don't forget stuff like
animation - I'm sure Taiwanese versions are different than Japanese
anime.

Deb

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